Question

What are the main characteristics of Indian agriculture? Give any three.
Or
State two important characteristics of Indian agriculture.

What are the main characteristics of Indian agriculture?

Answer 1

1. On account of variety of soils and climatic variations wide variety of crops can be grown.
2. There are two important crop seasons in India: Kharif and Rabi.
3. Both the intensive and extensive types of farming are prevalent in India.

Answer 2

1. Subsistence Nature: Farmers primarily cultivate small plots to feed their own families, leaving very little surplus for the commercial market.
2. Monsoon Dependency: A significant portion of agricultural land lacks assured irrigation and relies entirely on the unpredictable Indian monsoon.
3. Fragmented Landholdings: Successive inheritance laws have continuously divided farm plots, making them small, uneconomical, and unsuitable for large-scale machinery.
4. Dominance of Food Crops: To sustain a massive population, the cultivation of staple food grains like rice and wheat heavily outweighs commercial cash crops.
5. Low Productivity: Due to limited capital, traditional farming methods, and inadequate use of modern inputs, the yield per hectare remains relatively low compared to global standards.